Turnback Cave

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Is there a way to consistently get through the cave?

Turnback Cave もどりのどうくつ
Returning Cave
"Wild Missingno. appeared!"
File:Spring Giratina.png
Map description: {{{mapdesc}}}
Location: Sendoff Spring
Region: Sinnoh
Generations: IV
Sinnoh Turnback Cave Map.png
Location of Turnback Cave in Sinnoh.
Pokémon world locations

Turnback Cave (Japanese: もどりのどうくつ Returning Cave) is a maze-like cave filled with dense fog which is home to the Legendary Pokémon, Giratina. Turnback Cave is located at the north-central region of Sendoff Spring, which itself may only be accessed through the Spring Path. In Diamond and Pearl, in the room Giratina resides in is an inscription that implies the cave is a location where the separation between the real world and the Distortion World is weaker. This is more or less confirmed in Platinum, where a portal to the Distortion World appears in front of the inscription.

The only way to locate Giratina is to pass the three pillars before passing through thirty rooms. The best hint to navigate the puzzle is to look at the pattern of rocks on the floor of each room, and enter the door out of the three which has the odd pattern. When the three pillars have been encountered the first time, Giratina will be in the next room. Escape Ropes are not usable, but if one turns back and leaves through the door from which they entered, it will warp them directly to the first room. When the player reaches a pillar and examines it two numbers will appear: the top number indicates which pillar the player is looking at, and the bottom indicates how many rooms have been passed through on the way to it.

After catching Giratina, one can return through the cave to obtain a rare item, depending on how many rooms it takes to reach Giratina's room again. In just 3 rooms, the item will be a Reaper Cloth; 4 to 15 will earn a Rare Bone; 16 to 30 will earn a Stardust. Over 30 rooms, of course, will return the player to the entrance. Riding the Bicycle seems to increase the chance of next entering a pillar room. Rare items regenerate by returning to the cave each time, and they can even be received with Giratina still in the room. In Pokémon Platinum, it will have an item and the portal to the Distortion World.

Geography

Rooms and pillars

There is much mystery shrouding Turnback Cave, in relation to getting consistently to Giratina's room. Rooms occur randomly when the player goes through an entrance. The only way to locate Giratina is to pass the three pillars before passing through thirty rooms. The best hint to navigate the puzzle is to look at the pattern of rocks on the floor of each room, and enter the door out of the three which has the odd pattern. Riding the Bicycle also seems to help. When the three pillars have been encountered the first time, Giratina will be in the next room. Each pillar has two numbers on it: the top number indicates which pillar the player is looking at, and the bottom indicates how many rooms have been passed through on the way to it.

Version Between Entry and 1st Pillar Between 1st and 2nd Pillar Between 2nd and 3rd Pillar Giratina's Room
Diamond File:Turnbackcave 1.png File:Turnbackcave 5.png File:Turnbackcave 6.png File:Spring Giratina.png
Pearl
Platinum File:Turnbackcave 2.png File:Turnbackcave 3.png File:Turnbackcave 4.png
 

Items

  • Reaper Cloth: Every time the player reaches the last room by passing through only 3 rooms.
  • Rare Bone: Every time the player reaches the last room by passing through 4-15 rooms.
  • Stardust: Every time the player reaches the last room by passing through 16-30 rooms.

Pokémon

File:Giratina altered platinum.png
Altered Forme Giratina at Turnback Cave in Platinum
Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate


  Golbat D P Pt Cave 45, 46 30%


  Haunter D P Pt Cave 44, 45 30%


  Bronzor D P Pt Cave 44 45 5%


  Bronzong D P Pt Cave 45, 46 35%


  Golbat D P Pt Cave 17-27


  Gastly D P Pt Cave


  Haunter D P Pt Cave


  Duskull D P Pt Cave


  Dusclops D P Pt Cave


  Chimecho D P Pt Cave


  Chingling D P Pt Cave


  Bronzor D P Pt Cave


  Bronzong D P Pt Cave


  Lunatone D P Pt Dongle
(Sapphire)
44, 46 8%


  Solrock D P Pt Dongle
(Ruby)
44, 46 8%


  Giratina
Altered Forme
D P Pt Cave 70 Only one


  Giratina
Altered Forme
D P Pt Cave 47 Only one*


A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Note: Listed levels are for Pokémon encountered before the first pillar. Levels of Pokémon encountered increase by 10 for every pillar that has been passed. Otherwise, encounter rate is the same.

Trivia

In other languages

  • Spanish: Cueva Retorno
  • German: Höhle der Umkehr
  • Italian: Grotta Ritorno

See also


Sinnoh
               
Settlements
Twinleaf TownSandgem TownJubilife CityOreburgh CityFloaroma TownEterna CityHearthome City
Solaceon TownVeilstone CityPastoria CityCelestic TownCanalave CitySnowpoint CitySunyshore City
Pokémon LeagueFight AreaSurvival AreaResort Area
Routes
201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215
216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230
Landmarks
Lake Verity (Lakefront) • Oreburgh GateOreburgh MineOreburgh Mining MuseumGlobal Terminal/Global Wonder Station
Ravaged PathFloaroma MeadowValley WindworksEterna ForestOld ChateauUnderground/Grand Underground
Wayward CaveMount CoronetAmity SquareLost TowerHallowed TowerSolaceon RuinsManiac TunnelLake Valor (Lakefront)
Great MarshPokémon MansionTrophy GardenFuego IronworksIron IslandLake Acuity (Lakefront) • Spear PillarVictory Road
Pal Park/Ramanas ParkContest HallBattle ZoneBattle ParkBattle Tower/Battle FrontierStark MountainSnowpoint Temple
Spring PathSendoff SpringTurnback CaveFullmoon IslandNewmoon IslandSeabreak PathFlower ParadiseHall of Origin
Access to
Distortion World
See also
Hisui


Game locations of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
Kanto Seafoam IslandsPower PlantVictory RoadCerulean Cave
Route 10Route 25Pewter CityRoaming Pokémon
Sevii Islands Mt. EmberNavel RockBirth Island
Johto Ilex ForestBell TowerWhirl IslandsMt. Silver Cave
Burned TowerEmbedded TowerRoaming Pokémon
Hoenn Desert RuinsIsland CaveAncient TombCave of OriginMarine Cave
Terra CaveSky PillarSouthern IslandSea MauvilleScorched Slab
Pathless PlainNameless CavernFabled CaveGnarled Den
Trackless ForestCrescent IsleSkyRoaming Pokémon
Sinnoh Acuity CavernValor CavernSpear PillarTurnback Cave
Rock Peak RuinsIceberg RuinsIron RuinsSnowpoint Temple
Stark MountainNewmoon IslandFlower ParadiseHall of Origin
Ramanas ParkFloaroma TownRoaming Pokémon
Unova Guidance ChamberTrial ChamberRumination FieldN's CastleAbundant Shrine
Giant ChasmDragonspiral TowerLiberty GardenRoute 11Route 13Route 22
Route 23Celestial TowerNacrene CityUnderground RuinsTwist Mountain
DreamyardMarvelous BridgeReversal MountainCoastal BiomeRoaming Pokémon
Kalos Sea Spirit's DenTeam Flare Secret HQTerminus Cave
Unknown DungeonRoaming Pokémon
Alola Route 16Altar of the SunneAltar of the MooneMount LanakilaMahalo Trail
Ruins of ConflictRuins of LifeRuins of AbundanceRuins of Hope
Aether ParadiseAncient Poni PathLake of the SunneLake of the Moone
Ten Carat HillResolution Cave
Galar Tower summitBattle TowerMaster DojoCrown ShrineMax Lair
Rock Peak RuinsIceberg RuinsIron RuinsSplit-Decision RuinsGiant's Bed
Frigid SeaLakeside CaveBallimere LakeFreezingtonRoaming Pokémon
Hisui Seaside HollowTemple of SinnohAcuity CavernValor CavernVerity Cavern
Lava Dome SanctumMoonview ArenaSnowpoint TempleTurnback CaveBonechill Wastes
Cobalt CoastlandsRamanas IslandScarlet BogCoronet HighlandsFloaro Gardens
Paldea Grasswither ShrineIcerend ShrineGroundblight ShrineFirescourge Shrine
Poco PathArea ZeroArea Zero UnderdepthsGlaseado Mountain
South Province (Area One)Asado DesertWest Province (Area One)East Province (Area Three)
Casseroya LakeNorth Paldean SeaSouth Province (Area Four)North Province (Area Two)
Alfornada CavernGreat Crater of PaldeaTagtree ThicketEast Province (Area One)
South Province (Area Five)Dalizapa PassagePokémon LeagueSocarrat Trail
Kitakami Paradise BarrensWistful FieldsOni MountainDreaded DenLoyalty Plaza
Other Faraway IslandDistortion WorldSinjoh RuinsUltra Space Wilds
  This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.